Awake

For the fourth night in a row this week, I have woken up at 4am unable to fall back to sleep. This morning as I lie awake I continue to think about how I just under charged a new private yoga client based on his location & the possible number of attendees.

I finally get out of bed to get a glass of juice. As I stand and drink my juice, I turn on my BlackBerry and see an email from one of my dear neighbors. She sent the email to all of my neighbors asking each of us to pray on behalf of a neighbor battling breast cancer (again).

I return to bed with my mind now consumed with how thoughtful the email is and how I can follow through with the simple request of chanting “Dear Lord, please help heal our dear friend Julie”. The email request that we repeat the prayer/chant/affirmation (whatever you want to call it) three times a day for 40 days. There’s a lot of significance in 40 days – the Buddha sat under the bodhi tree meditating for 40 days, Moses was in the mountains (or sea) for 40 days, etc. The references can be endless and very ancient.

As I continue to lie awake, suddenly I realize my financial woe that just minutes before took up my mind is insignificant to a human life. How quickly my mind shifted from my petty loss. Instead of worrying about me, I should put that energy into thoughts for my neighbor.

Prayer on behalf of another, a smile at a stranger or simply holding the door for someone are simple acts of kindness that express gratitude for others. To conclude, I ask: Does the world revolve around us? Or is it acts of human kindness that connect us to one another around the world? Back to sleep.

Well smiling at a stranger is NO NO ! hahaha
Well apart from that I think all others acts of kindness mentioned by you are fine . It is truly the acts of human kindness which brings good people together . 🙂http://www.a2zyoga.com/blog/